（ ＶＩＤＥＯ ）

[uprightness]

Who: peggy carter, steve rogers and all of you guys

Broadcast:  amazingly, yes

Action: on the starstruck, if you're so inclined
When: current.

[ New Year’s Eve has come and gone without anything exploding or going awfully wrong and so today is just safe enough for something else. Steve Rogers doesn’t address the network for no reason, after all. Only today he keeps looking back and eventually, calls: ]

Are you really going to stay there throughout the whole thing?

[ There’s a flicker to Steve’s left: dark curls and a flash of a silk blouse as Peggy leans into view. ] Perhaps. After all, of the two of us, you’re the one with experience in addressing the public.

[ But! Fine! Here she is, framed beside him onscreen, and refraining from making any more jokes about the old USO show. ]

Very funny.

[ but he is smiling, small but amused. For all of his experience, he seems as if he’s been practicing his lines for this one broadcast. ]

I know some of you will say this is long overdue, but after months of asking, mostly on her part, I’ve said yes and we’ve decided to get married.

[ -- and that’s when Peggy slaps the back of her hand against Steve’s shoulder, hissing something (something for him alone) about twisting the truth and tarnishing her well-earned cred. ]

I mean, after a careful observation of mutual interests, we’ve decided to get married. What this is really about is a simple matter of proving me right. I’d like you all to tell her three weeks is a perfectly reasonable duration for a honeymoon.

[ She reaches for the device, tugging its focus onto herself. ] -- For God’s sake, don’t encourage him. We’ve only just got engaged; it’s far far too early to start discussing the rest. [ Aside, to Steve: ] I warned you when I agreed to this ridiculous message. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

[ But she’s laughing. ]

It's not getting too ahead of ourselves. Call it careful consideration of facts.

[ he'll reach out and close the device for the sake of this banter. ]

Comments

voice

[expellerhead]

[......well then] Congratulations Captain, First Mate. Let me know if you need any assistance.

voice

[mucked]

Thank you. And if the day comes and I find myself kidnapped onto my honeymoon, then it may fall to you to keep an eye on Wilson. I fear he's a plant on Steve's behalf.

voice

[expellerhead]

Captain, my opinion -professionally speaking- is that you take a vacation in excess of just one or two days.

In return, I'll stalk whomever you ask me to.

1/2

[mucked]

Professionally speaking...

2/2

[mucked]

He's gotten to you, hasn't he.

[expellerhead]

No. You're my friend before the First Mate.

Three weeks is ludicrous, but one week is reasonable. Ten days, if you want to be particularly generous. You need a break.

[mucked]

Thank you.

[ god bless reason. ]

One week is more than enough. After what's happened, lately, it hardly seems prudent to push beyond it.

[expellerhead]

I agree. Especially since, as Sam pointed out elsewhere, we might not be finished with these predicted catastrophes.

But I'm less concerned about what this ship might do without you two and more concerned that you might be stranded if something were to happen. If what's holding you back is us, then don't worry. I've wrangled twenty superpowered teenagers at once, and I'm sure Wilson is just as capable.

[mucked]

I certainly have the utmost confidence in the Starstruck's crew. [ certainly, that's not an issue. so what is? her own cold feet, perhaps, or slavish devotion to her work. ]

Even Max has come a damned long way.

[expellerhead]

Glad to see you two getting along again. [it was a little awkward for a while there.]

The First Mate's not giving, but he said he would settle for two weeks. I think you should try to get it down to ten days, but he may just need two weeks with you.

[mucked]

The First Mate is a stubborn bastard and I do believe I can whittle him down to eight.

[expellerhead]

Is this some sort of bizarre foreplay with the two of you? Do what you like.

[mucked]

-- Careful, Mister Aizawa.

[ she won't brook that kind of familiar talk. in fact, it makes her almost too uncomfortable. a button's been hit. ]

[wingedman]

I feel like I oughta be insulted, except you really aren't wrong.

[mucked]

It's almost mutiny, Wilson.

voice

[uprightness]

I could use more people telling her that a honeymoon could be longer than a weekend spent off the ship -

[ what. he offered. ]

voice

[expellerhead]

On it.

voice

[uprightness]

Much appreciated. I think we could all use some time off. I'm pretty grateful we've gotten a quiet Christmas.

[ nothing exploded. it was a big relief. ]

voice

[expellerhead]

I would've disagreed with you a few months ago, only I've come to realize the importance of not denying yourself emotional intimacy here.

...but three weeks is still too much.

voice

[uprightness]

--- she convinced you already?

[ gdi. ]

voice

[expellerhead]

I agreed with her to begin with.

I know the general rule of bargaining is to quote high and talk down, but you do have to eventually haggle.

voice

[uprightness]

if I thought I could get away with a month, I would go for that.

[ can you hear the shrug? ]

this is me settling.

voice

[expellerhead]

Ridiculous. The Fleet's barely in one place that long.

One week is more than enough.

voice

[uprightness]

Sometimes it does. One week is barely enough time. I might be willing to settle on two. I trust you guys can manage the ship for fourteen days.

[ aka he'll call natasha, too. ]

voice

[expellerhead]

I'm not concerned about the ship, I'm concerned about the two of you. Leaving the Fleet for that long is ill-advised.